Rebirth Immortal-Chapter 38: The Battle Begins

The air grew heavy, thick with the tension of an impending battle. Ye Chen, Zhao Ming, and Lin Xia stood their ground, their eyes fixed on the woman who had just arrived. Her dark robes billowed slightly in the wind, her cold, calculating gaze making it clear that she had no intention of letting them leave with the crystal.

The masked man, still gripping his sword tightly, took a step back, standing behind the woman. "Master, do you wish for me to deal with them?" he asked.

The woman lifted a single hand, her fingers moving slightly. "No need. I will handle this myself."

Ye Chen's heart pounded. He could sense the immense power radiating from her. She was on a completely different level from the masked man. If they fought her now, the chances of victory were slim.

Zhao Ming clenched his fists. "Ye Chen, what's the plan?" he whispered.

Ye Chen's mind worked quickly. Running wasn't an option. The woman would catch them before they could escape. The only choice was to fight, but they needed to be smart.

"We work together," Ye Chen said. "Don't take her head-on. Watch for openings and strike when you can."

Lin Xia nodded. "Got it."

The woman smirked, as if amused by their determination. "Foolish," she said. "You really think the three of you stand a chance?"

Before anyone could react, she moved. In a blur, she appeared in front of Ye Chen, her palm striking toward his chest.

Ye Chen barely had time to react. He raised his sword, blocking the attack, but the force behind it was terrifying. His feet dug into the ground as he was pushed back, his arms trembling from the impact.

She was fast. Too fast.

Zhao Ming and Lin Xia attacked from the sides, their weapons slicing through the air. But the woman moved effortlessly, dodging their strikes with graceful precision. She countered with a simple flick of her wrist, sending a wave of energy toward them.

Zhao Ming and Lin Xia were thrown back, crashing against the trees.

Ye Chen gritted his teeth. This wasn't going to be easy.

The woman tilted her head slightly. "Pathetic," she said. "You are not worth my time."

Ye Chen's grip on his sword tightened. He couldn't afford to hesitate. He focused his energy, feeling the power within him surge to life.

Then, he moved.

With lightning speed, he lunged forward, his sword cutting through the air. The woman smirked and raised her hand to block, but the moment their weapons clashed, her expression changed.

A surge of power erupted from Ye Chen's blade, a force that sent a shockwave through the air.

The woman's eyes widened in surprise as she was forced to take a step back. "Interesting..." she murmured.

Ye Chen didn't let up. He pressed forward, his attacks becoming faster, stronger. He didn't know why, but something inside him had awakened. His body felt lighter, his movements sharper.

The woman frowned slightly, her amusement fading. "It seems I underestimated you."

She raised both hands, and dark energy swirled around her, forming sharp, black tendrils that lashed toward Ye Chen.

Ye Chen dodged, rolling to the side as the tendrils struck the ground where he had been standing. The impact left deep scars in the earth, showing just how deadly her attacks were.

Lin Xia and Zhao Ming rejoined the fight, attacking from behind while Ye Chen kept her occupied.

For the first time, the woman looked slightly annoyed. She flicked her wrist, sending another wave of energy toward them. But this time, Ye Chen was ready.

He raised his sword and slashed through the attack, dispersing the energy before it could reach his friends.

The woman's eyes narrowed. "You're more troublesome than I thought."

Ye Chen exhaled sharply. He was pushing himself to the limit, but he could feel the strain on his body. If this continued, he wouldn't last long.

The woman seemed to realize this as well. "Enough games," she said coldly.

She moved faster than before, appearing right in front of Ye Chen. He barely had time to block as her palm struck his chest.

Pain exploded through his body as he was sent flying, crashing into a boulder. He coughed, struggling to stand.

Zhao Ming and Lin Xia rushed to his side. "Ye Chen!" Lin Xia called, worry in her voice.

Ye Chen wiped the blood from his mouth and forced himself to his feet. "I'm fine," he muttered.

The woman sighed. "I will give you one last chance. Hand over the crystal, and I will spare your lives."

Ye Chen met her gaze, his eyes filled with defiance. "Never."

The woman's expression darkened. "Very well."

She raised her hand, dark energy gathering around her. The power was overwhelming, enough to crush them in an instant.

Ye Chen knew he couldn't stop it. His body was already at its limit.

But just as the attack was about to be unleashed, something unexpected happened.

The crystal inside Ye Chen's bag suddenly pulsed with a bright light. The energy from the woman's attack was pulled toward it, vanishing as if absorbed.

The woman's eyes widened. "What—?"

Ye Chen felt a strange warmth spreading through his body. The crystal was reacting to him, feeding him its power.

A sudden surge of energy flooded his veins. His wounds began to heal, his exhaustion fading. He felt stronger, faster.

The woman took a step back, uncertainty flickering across her face.

Ye Chen tightened his grip on his sword. He didn't fully understand what was happening, but he wasn't going to waste this opportunity.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

With a deep breath, he took a step forward. The power inside him roared to life, and for the first time, he felt like he could truly fight back.